Flyers defenseman Kim Johnsson received 25 stitches to close a cut over his right eye after getting slashed by Senators forward Martin Havlat. Team captain Keith Primeau got cut in the face in his first shift, and two other Flyers were cut.

Hitchcock promised the Senators would "pay the price" in Game 3, and even dressed enforcer Todd Fedoruk, who hadn't played in the first two games.

Instead, the Senators were the more physical team, rallying from a 2-1 deficit to regain the home-ice advantage.

"That is something we try to do, get in on the forecheck and be physical," said defenseman Wade Redden, who scored the game-winner 6:43 into overtime. "They come out hard on forechecking us, but we turned the tide a bit and got it going our way. We want to pick up where we left off."

Hitchcock said this series has been tougher physically on the Flyers than their opening-round series against Toronto, which lasted seven games, including seven overtimes.

"Toronto was like 40-foot runs at everybody and who can take each other's heads off," Hitchcock said. "This is in close quarters, one-on-one, big bodies banging into big bodies, fighting for space. There's absolutely no room on the ice, especially in both teams' defensive zones."

Not only are the Senators winning the physical battle, they are outplaying the Flyers on special teams.

Both of Ottawa's goals in regulation Tuesday came with a man-advantage, and the Flyers didn't score on their four power-plays. Philadelphia managed just three shots during eight minutes with an extra skater.

"They do a good job killing penalties," Hitchcock said. "Everyone in the league knows we don't have a 'hammer' back there. We look to do other things and have had some success in the playoffs."

Ottawa, which beat the New York Islanders in five games in the opening round, has never advanced past this round, losing twice before. The Senators could take a commanding lead with another victory at the First Union Center on Thursday night.

Ottawa has proved it can come back to beat the Flyers, rallying from a 2-0 deficit in Game 1 and two, one-goal deficits in Game 3. The victory Tuesday night was the first time in 23 playoff games that the Senators came back to win a game they trailed after two periods.

"We never give up and you need to get some bounces," Senators forward Daniel Alfredsson said.